Poinsettia plant named `Fisbon`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of poinsettia plant named Fisbon, characterized by the combined traits of orange-red bract color, medium and well branched plant habit, medium green foliage, no tendency to develop a bluish tint, and its good performance in early culture under high temperatures.

Fisbon is a product of a mutation induction program carried out by theinvention in Hillscheid, Germany in 1991. The primary objective of theinduction program was to expand the bract color ranges of Peterstar,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,259 and characterized by its brightred bract color, medium green foliage, comparatively compact planthabit, medium early response in autumn, and good branching ability.

The irradiation program resulting in the new cultivar comprised exposingrooted cuttings of the parent cultivar to an X-ray source of 30 Gy inAhrensburg, Germany under the supervision of the inventor Katharina Zerrin 1991. The irradiated plants were grown out in a greenhouse inHillscheid, Germany and were asexually propagated by taking cuttings.These cuttings were grown outdoors near Galdar, Gran Canaria, Spain,under the supervision of the inventor. Parts of plants showing mutationwere cut from the remainder of the plants by the inventor and planted ascuttings. The plants grown from these cuttings were identified by numberand selections were made by the inventor in autumn 1991.

The new cultivar evolved from a branch of an irradiated plant havingspeckles and marbled red bract color. The plant was grown out andpropagated several times by cuttings by the inventor. Selections weremade of plants with uniform orange-red flower color. One such selection,identified as plant No. 263, comprised the new cultivar.

The new cultivar was thereafter propagated several times in Hillscheid,Germany in order to eliminate chimeras and to obtain a plant with stableand uniform characteristics.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Fisbon which in combination distinguish thispoinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Orange-red flower color.

2. No tendency to develop a bluish tint.

3. Medium tall and well branched plant habit.

4. Medium green foliage.

5. Good performance in early culture under high temperatures.

Fisbon has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength without,however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Hillscheid,Germany, under greenhouse conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin comparison to Fisbon is the parent cultivar Peterstar. In comparisonto Peterstar, the bract color of Fisbon is more orange-red and there isno tendency to develop a bluish cast. The difference in bract color ismost visible with the primary, slightly bicolored bracts which are near45 C in Fisbon but a more red (50A) in Peterstar. In trials to date,Fisbon has shown a somewhat more compact habit, and visible bractcoloring begins about one week earlier than Peterstar.

When compare to Angelika, the parent of Peterstar and disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 5,492, Fisbon has an orange-red bract color which is moreuniform and which does not tend to develop a bluish cast or to fadeunder less than optimum conditions. Angelika is a stronger grower,develops fertile stamens (unlike Fisbon) and has generally flat bracts.

When compared to Fispic, disclosed in a pending application, Fisbon hasa less compact growth habit, orange-red bract color, and the foliage ofFisbon is a lighter green. The bracts and leaves of Fispic are narrowerwith longer acuminated tips and a greater degree of rugosity and lobing.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical inflorescenceand foliage of Fisbon, with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type. In the photograph, a typical mature pottedplant of Fisbon appears on the left and a mature potted plant ofcomparison cultivar Peterstar appears on the right.

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedindoors in a north light. The plants described were grown in Hillscheid,Germany (latitude 50°N). They were planted as rooted cuttings into 14 cmpots in early August, potted in late-August and pinched 10 days later.Plants were lighted (long day conditions) from mid-September. FromOctober 1, they grew under natural short days conditions in thegreenhouse at 18° C. night temperature and 18° to 24° C. daytemperature. Observations and measurements were taken at the beginningof flowering when three (3) cyathias were open.

Classification:

Botanical.--Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Commercial.--Poinsettia, cv. Fisbon.

Parentage: Induced mutation of Peterstar.

Plant description:

Form.--Broad, bushy, 9-11 branches.

Growth habit.--Low-medium height: 25-30 cm, compact.

Rooting.--Fast, less than 20 days.

Blooming season.--From late November (about 9 weeks of response time).

Blooming habit.--Saleable in late November, when 3-6 bracts are fullycolored.

Foliage.--Size: Leaf is approximately 13-14 cm in length; petiole is 7cm in length. Internodes: 10-15 mm. Color: New Foliage: Upper surface,medium green, between 143A and 144A; under surface 144A. Old Foliage:Upper surface, medium green 147A; under surface 137C. Leaf Petiole:Light red. Shape: Broad, elliptic with weak lobes, rounded base.Texture: Upper side, slightly rugose; lower side, weak veins. Edge ofmargin: Entire. Disease resistance: Neither higher tolerance nor highersusceptibility to diseases or pests have been noted.

Flowering description:

Cyathias.--Borne: In a narrow cluster. Quantity: 18-23. Retention: Good.

Bracts.--Broad elliptical; largest colored bract with petiole is 17 cmlong.

Color.--Orange-red 42A.

Aspect.--Horizontal.

Reproductive organs:

Glands, nectar cups.--Orange-yellow.

Stamens.--Brown, hardly any fertile stamens.

Pollen.--No pollen.

Styles.--Red, 6-lobed stigma.

Ovaries.--Triangular, 3-celled, 3 ovules.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct poinsettia plant named Fisbon, asillustrated and described.